Will a leveling base help me...

get a leveled horizon? I've been using a small hot shoe bubble level that doesn't seems to want to work all the time. I find myself adjusting the horizon on most of my photos. A real pain! Will a leveling base help me here? What do you guys think about Acratech's Leveling Base on my GT3541LS? I like that it's small and light weight. My heaviest setup is a 1Ds MK II and 70-200mm 2.8 non IS which I'm pretty sure doesn't weigh anywhere near the max load this level base can hold, 25lbs. BTW I mostly shoot long exposures of cityscapes. No panos, at least not yet

http://www.acratech.ne​t/leveling-base-with-stud/

Thanks guys!

I have a Gitzo leveling base which I never use, because a ball head is so much easier and faster to use (and so much lighter weight). A bubble level, whether mounted on a hot shoe on on the ball head, is still necessary. So I would answer no, a leveling base will not help getting leveled horizons.

Thanks Eric! I just got a RRS B2-Pro II clamp. I will give it's bubble level a try. My hot shoe one is 50/50

seres wrote in post #16633485
I have a Gitzo leveling base which I never use, because a ball head is so much easier and faster to use (and so much lighter weight). A bubble level, whether mounted on a hot shoe on on the ball head, is still necessary. So I would answer no, a leveling base will not help getting leveled horizons.

I have the RRS leveling base with their 3 series tripod. While I find it somewhat useful, you still have to level the head and so a bubble level in the hotshoe is necessary. That said, I love the way mine works, by grasping a large downward protruding knob, rubber covered on the end, turning to loosen, leveling the base, and then tightening with a half turn. It's an elegant solution for when you have your legs on uneven ground.

Thanks MDJAK!

MDJAK wrote in post #16633560
I have the RRS leveling base with their 3 series tripod. While I find it somewhat useful, you still have to level the head and so a bubble level in the hotshoe is necessary. That said, I love the way mine works, by grasping a large downward protruding knob, rubber covered on the end, turning to loosen, leveling the base, and then tightening with a half turn. It's an elegant solution for when you have your legs on uneven ground.

I'm with Mdjak. I love the way the series 3 RRS leveling base works. I don't have to worry about getting the legs exactly right on uneven ground. The leveling base is fast and efficient.

As Mdjak said, I also have to level the clamp but I usually use the grid in the viewfinder for that. If I am having trouble with that for some reason, I do use the bubble level.

I've been using a RRS leveling base in my Gitzo 3541LS tripod with an Arca Swiss Z1 ballhead. It's a somewhat heavy rig, great if you're using a car. Last year I rented an Acratech GP for a couple of weeks to try out because you can invert the ballhead and it functions as a leveling base as well. I really liked it so I bought one a couple of weeks ago and I'm going to temporarily give it an extended run on my 3-series. It only weighs 1lb which is quite a weight savings over the Z1 and leveling base.

I have a travel tripod but I'd also like to use my systematic more on trips so we'll see how this works out.

I use the AF spots in the viewfinder or live view with the 'rule of thirds' grid blended in, find that easier than any bubble level

Thanks guys! No live view here

You may have a poor quality bubble level. All double bubble levels are not created equal.

I'll have to search for a new one. It's not easy to see the lines in the viewfinder around/after sunset. I will try using the AF points next time.

Bearmann wrote in post #16668355
You may have a poor quality bubble level. All double bubble levels are not created equal.

No point getting a leveling base unless you're doing panos IMO. For single shots, just level the ballhead (using a better bubble level).

Sirrith wrote in post #16669604
No point getting a leveling base unless you're doing panos IMO. For single shots, just level the ballhead (using a better bubble level).

Fully agree. I have a leveling base for my Gitzo and only use it for panos.

I recently purchased a Sunwayfoto leveling base, which has a cross hair for getting the bubble in the centre to ensure it's level, but the electronic level in the camera doesn't agree, nor does the bubble level which is on the tripod head. All 3 give differing levels.

Sirrith wrote in post #16669604
No point getting a leveling base unless you're doing panos IMO. For single shots, just level the ballhead (using a better bubble level).

Not strictly relevant to this thread, but with a big lens and a gimbal they're pretty much essential.